Ka-Band Solid-State Power Amplifier Module

A compact Ka-band power amplifier has been built with GaAs field-effect transistors (FETs) and microstrip conductors on a quartz substrate. Prior to the development of this amplifier, Ka-band solid-state amplifiers with useful output power levels (of the order of 1 W or more) were not readily available, and it was common practice to use traveling-wave-tube amplifiers (TWTAs), which are capable of higher power levels but are also relatively bulky and expensive. TWTAs are not well suited for applications in which compactness is paramount. The present amplifier is better suited for such applications, which include phased-array antennas and mobile communication systems.